Qian Zhijun (钱志君 Qián Zhìjūn) is a Chinese actor and entertainer. His fame began during the "Little Fatty" internet meme, and since then he has appeared in films and hosted a festival for people with alternative body types.
Qian originated from Jinshan District, Shanghai. In 2003,[1] a teacher had taken a photograph of Qian at a traffic safety event.[2] Starting in 2003, his face was superimposed onto various other images.[3][4]
The boy said that he first discovered the meme when, at an internet cafe, a person approached Qian and asked him if he was the real "Little Fatty." Qian said that he originally felt humiliation, but "I have tried to turn sorrow into strength. At least this makes people smile and I have had quite a positive response from many surfers."[2]
In the mid-2000s Qian worked as a gas station attendant, with a salary of 1,000 Chinese yuan ($125 USD,[5] £60 GBP,[6] about R1,000 ZAR[5]) per month.[4] He weighed 100 kilograms (220 lb).[1] By 2006, as a result of exposure from the meme, the man had hopes about getting a career as an entertainer.[5] Qian also said that he wanted to become a celebrity chef on television and teach people how to make healthier eating choices.[6]
La Carmina of CNN said that by late 2006 Qian became "one of the most famous faces in China." Carmina added that, as a result of the internet meme, Qian "went from obscurity to movie stardom."[7] Qian accepted an appearance to appear in Beijing on the talk show Tell The Truth.[4] Qian starred in Three Kingdoms: Resurrection of the Dragon, where he played Liu Shan, the last emperor of the Shu Han.[8] His costars were Sammo Hung, Andy Lau, and Maggie Q.[7] In 2007 New Line Cinema invited Qian to act in a film version of "Ghost Blows Out the Light."[9] Qian also became the host of a cooking show on China Food TV.[10] In 2010 Qian hosted a festival celebrating people with alternative body types in Shanghai.[11] He starred in the 2010 film The University Days of a Dog (一只狗的大学时光).[12]
